Startups
544
Southeast Asia's Fastest-Growing Startup Hub
As Vietnam's most advanced startup ecosystem, Ho Chi Minh City is where government ambition, private capital, and technical talent work together.
Operated by 
Growth Rate
25.1%
Total Funding
$2.3B
Top Ecosystem Highlight
Regional Ranking
#5 in Southeast Asia
HCMC has the 5th strongest startup ecosystem in Southeast Asia in StartupBlink's 2025 City Rankings.
The current goal of Ho Chi Minh City is to bring its startup and innovation ecosystem into the top 100 most dynamic startup ecosystems in the world by 2030. To achieve this objective, the city is focusing on three key areas: policy, infrastructure, and human resources. The city is committed to accompanying and supporting ideas, solutions, and feasible designs to promote the development of Ho Chi Minh City's startup and innovation ecosystem.
Lâm Đình Thắng
Director, Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City
Latest Opportunities & Events
Discover the latest events and opportunities for startups in the portal.
INOEX 2026
Southeast Asia's leading forum and exhibition for innovation, connecting startups, corporates, and investors from across the region.
Available until:
August 20–21, 2026
Startup & Innovation Hub of Ho Chi Minh City (SIHUB)
HCMC's leading startup hub, providing assistance across legal affairs, intellectual property, finance, fundraising, technology development, and access to domestic and international markets.
Available until:
Ongoing
Business Startup Support Centre (BSSC)
BSSC offers funding programmes, pitch competitions, mentoring, and community-building activities for early-stage founders and young entrepreneurs in HCMC.
Available until:
Ongoing
Recent Articles & News
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Our Partners
Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
Startup and Innovation Hub (SIHUB)
Ecosystem Stakeholders
Meet with the key players driving this vibrant startup ecosystem.
Notable Startups
Top Coworking Spaces
Notable Organizations
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Contact UsTop Achievements of the Ho Chi Minh Startup Ecosystem
Rankings provided by
Annual Ecosystem Growth
16%
One of the strongest growth rates among Southeast Asia's startup hubs.
Blockchain Global Ranking
#22 Globally
Ho Chi Minh City ranks among the world’s top 25 blockchain ecosystem and #2 in Southeast Asia.
Startup Ecosystem in Vietnam Ranking
#1
HCMC ranks first nationally, with an ecosystem score 46% stronger than second place Hanoi.
Key Benefits of Joining Ho Chi Minh Startup Ecosystem
Government-Backed Startup Policies
Ho Chi Minh City has introduced some of Vietnam’s most concrete startup incentives, including 5-year corporate tax exemptions for qualifying innovative startups and tax advantages for investors under Resolution 98/2023 and Decree 11/2024.
Deep, Cost-Competitive Talent Pipeline
As Vietnam's largest tech hub, HCMC is fuelled by nearly 100 universities and research institutions. It produces a continuous, highly skilled pipeline of software engineers, AI researchers, and Web3 developers at globally competitive costs.
Blockchain and Fintech Specialisation
HCMC holds a credible global position in the blockchain and fintech industries, serving as the headquarters for homegrown unicorns like MoMo and Sky Mavis who have successfully raised billions from top-tier global investors.
Key Statistics
Market Size
14m
Metropolitan population
Foreign Direct Investment
$8.37b
In 2025
Number of New Businesses
59,750
Established in 2025
Ho Chi Minh Ecosystem Landscape
Taxes and Incentives
Recent legislation has created one of Vietnam’s most startup-friendly regulatory environments.
•5-Year Tax Holidays: Under Decree 11/2024, qualifying innovative startups in HCMC receive a 5-year Corporate Income Tax (CIT) exemption. Investors also benefit from personal/corporate tax exemptions on capital transfers.
•High-Tech Tax Rates: Companies operating in high-tech sectors such as AI, software, semiconductors, and R&D qualify for a preferential 10% CIT rate for up to 15 years (standard is 20%).
•Foreigner-Friendly Programs: 100% foreign ownership is permitted with no local partner requirements. SIHUB offers dedicated soft-landing pathways, co-incubation, and market entry advisory for international founders.
•Direct Grants & Sandboxes: Non-dilutive grants (VND 40M - 400M) are available via SIHUB. Ho Chi Minh City is also a testing ground for new fintech, healthtech, and digital products through national regulatory sandbox programs.
•HCMC Hi-Tech Park (SHTP): Companies operating within SHTP benefit from preferential CIT rates, customs exemptions, and expedited administrative services. The park is a designated zone for electronics, IT, biotech, and precision engineering.
Investor Landscape
Accounting for 44% of total national startup investment capital and 60% of all deals, HCMC is Vietnam's undisputed venture capital epicenter.
•City-Backed Capital: The HCMC City Venture Capital Fund launched in 2026 with VND 500 billion (~USD 19.7M) in charter capital, with founding shareholders including Vingroup, VinaCapital, VNG Corporation, FPT, and Lotte Ventures Vietnam.
•Active VC Firms: Over 290 VC firms have deployed capital here. Consistently active funds include Do Ventures, Mekong Capital, CyberAgent Capital, Touchstone Partners, and 500 Global. Cross-border capital flows heavily from Singapore, South Korea, and Japan.
•Corporate Venture Capital: Domestic giants (Vingroup, FPT) and locally-based multinationals (Samsung, Intel, Bosch) provide strong strategic co-investment opportunities and pilot partnership opportunities for startups in hardware, manufacturing technology, and enterprise software.
•Angel and Early-Stage Networks: SIHUB's mentorship programs, the Business Startup Support Centre (BSSC), and the Ho Chi Minh City Young Businesspeople Association (YBA) collectively connect early-stage founders with local angel investors, high-net-worth individuals, and HCMC's established private sector network.
Ecosystem Milestones
2016
The Startup and Innovation Hub (SIHUB) of Ho Chi Minh City is established by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), as Vietnam’s first state-backed startup hub.
Fintech startups MoMo and Sky Mavis both achieve unicorn status, becoming HCMC’s first unicorns.
2021
2023
INOEX launches in HCMC as a regional innovation forum connecting startups, investors, and corporates across Southeast Asia.
Decree 11/2024 extends five-year CIT exemptions to qualifying startups in HCMC, a benefit previously unavailable in the city.
2024
2025
SIHUB's flagship 17,000m² hub is inaugurated, establishing HCMC's most significant piece of dedicated innovation infrastructure to date.
HCMC City Venture Capital Fund launches with founding shareholders including Vingroup, VinaCapital, VNG Corporation, FPT, and Lotte Ventures Vietnam.
2026
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